Everyone say hi Mike

Hi my name is Mike and I have an addiction.
Everyone say hi Mike.
Did you say hi Mike? The chances very good that you should be in the same support group with me to fight this addiction.
The question becomes what is this addiction? John 12:43 answers this for allot of us.

For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

They say the first step to overcoming an addiction is to admit that you have it. I do admit that sometimes I do love human praise and get all wrapped up in what people may or may not think of me and not for the glory of God but for the glory of me.

Sometimes I don't do or say the things I know I should for fear of what people might think. It is something that I realize and work on everyday, not always succeeding.
Now the question becomes if you have the same problem can you admit to it as well? And what are you going to do about it?

Random thoughts from the week

1. A question has been asked a couple of times recently and that is what are you looking forward to the most in Heaven. I have not yet went on record for myself. I am looking forward to meeting and worshiping Jesus the most. I am also looking forward to sitting down and talking to Job.
2. I caught myself this week having information that may have made others mad and I considered not sharing it. I was however moved to share it and was glad that I did. I can't help but think how many times I don't share the truth and what was lost because of it.

3. This week I also thought what does the price of gas have to be before the American people do something about it. We have our own oil but are not allowed to get it. Its like having a garden full of fresh produce and going to the store and paying twice what it's worth. I mean you can pick the produce with out destroying the garden.

4. After last weeks Daytona 500 and the ten year anniversary of Dale Earhart's death I was reminded of the fact I thought it was weird how the death of someone I didn't even know could effect me so much.

5. Will the Iowa Hawkeye men's basketball team ever be competitive again?

6. I still love the cartoon Calvin and Hobbs.

7. I am still better than I deserve, blessed beyond believe and pray that I can fulfill God's purpose for my life.

Give Up, You Can't Do It

John 6:63-65 should be very comforting to some and yet very concerning to others.
Here is what it says.

 ⁶³ The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) ⁶⁵ Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”

I have recently read a chapter in a book about death, and you know what it said? It said that death was coming for everyone. I am afraid that most people don't understand that death is the beginning of forever. Everyone has eternal life it is just a matter of your permanent address. There are only two zip codes when you die Heaven and Hell. So what do these verses have to do with anything?
It's when it says human effort accomplishes nothing. That is why I said in the beginning this should be cause for comfort to some and concern for others.
 Let's tackle the ones who should be concerned. These are the ones who think that by what they do will get them to Heaven, by being a "good" person. That if the good things they do out weigh the bad things God will be pleased. The ones that should really be concerned are the ones who think that God grades on a curve and as long as they are better than the other guy they are safe. My advice to those who try earn their way into God's grace. Give up. You can't do it.

Now for the ones who find comfort in these verses. These are the people who realize that they are sinners, that they are guilty, and that only by Gods grace can they get into Heaven. What a contrast from the ones who think that they are safe in a sense you can say that many good people call Hell home and only the bad can get into heaven.

Before you can get into Heaven you first have to realize how bad you really are and then ask Christ into your life so he can cover your multitude of sins. That is when you can take comfort in the fact that someone other than yourself is in charge of where you will spend eternity.

If you have not put Christ in charge of your life, ask him. Then you too can take comfort and have confidence that you are in the hands of the only one who can take you to Heaven.

Got Religion? I hope not!

 If you were surprised by the title of today's blog please consider the following words very carefully. If not perhaps they will just be a good reminder.

Religious people are extremely dangerous and to be honest Hell is full of religious people. Sounds crazy doesn't it? But through out the four Gospels Jesus is constantly going up against the Pharisees and they are continually trying wipe him out and the Pharisees were the most religious people of that day. Look what Jesus has to say in John 5: 39-40
 ³⁹ “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! ⁴⁰ Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

You can be a really good person. You can be as religious has you can stand. You can study as much as you want. You can be the most giving person in the whole world. Why you can even go to church every Sunday but just remember one thing.

Religion doesn't save people Jesus does!

Shock someone today

Is the only time you talk about Jesus is with those that already know him? I think at times it is very easy to fall into that trap. Satan just loves it when you only talk about Jesus to other believers. That way you are leaving his people alone. The cool thing about this whole battle between God and Satan is that Satan cannot take any of God's people but God can certainly take as many of Satan's people has he chooses. God can and does choose to use us at times to be his tool in rescuing people from the other side. But if you only go to those already on your side you are not going to be successful at all. You may very well have to talk to someone that is different than you.
Look at John 4:27 and see what Jesus' own disciples thought about that Samaritan women he was talking to.
²⁷ Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?”

They were shocked that he was even talking to her. So my advice for you today and myself is to go out and shock someone today.

Prequel and Sequel

Okay practically everyone knows John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

It's so nice, and so warm and fuzzy. When it says that God loved the world some think that's everything and everyone. If this is all the Bible you know, you may think you are safe because God so loved the world, everyone is going to end up with him in Heaven.

Wrong

You don't have to read the whole Bible to find out that, that is not the case. All you have to do is read the prequel and the sequel to John 3:16.

The prequel is John 3:3
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Being born again is a scary topic for some but here Jesus says I tell you the truth and he repeats himself 2 more times between verses 3 and 16 that you must be born again. Being born again must be important.

Then there is the sequel which comes in John 3:18

 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

In today's society we talk about diversity and understanding all the different kinds of people in the world when in fact Jesus makes it clear here and throughout the Bible there are only two kinds of people in the world. The guilty and the not guilty, believers and non-believers. And there are only two destinations Heaven to be with God, and Hell to be separated from God.
So when you hear John 3:16 don't focus on the words world, and everyone to much without thinking about the prequel and the sequel. Then think about what will happen to you when you die.

Lost in life's maze?

Do you remember as a kid the mazes you did? Where you had to start in one place and take your pencil and try to find the one path that would lead you out of the maze. The problem was there was never more than one correct path. I was reminded of this today as I was reading John 1:51 it says:

Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”

There are a couple of things that stood out to me.
1. In John's Gospel this was the very first thing that Jesus taught his disciples that he was the only way to Heaven. He also started by saying I tell you the truth. Must have been important.

2. Jesus is still to this day the one thing that separates Christianity from all other religions.

There are all kinds of people in the world that pray to gods (notice the little g) But Jesus is the only way to the one true God. (notice the big G)

So in this maze called life just like the ones on paper there is only one way out and it's up.

You must grow

Here are some very fitting words for the end of Peter's two letters.

2 Peter 3:18
 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

In his second letter Peter spent allot of time warning about false teachers and the day of judgement and these were the words that he left us with. We must grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Some really good advice, advice that would well be worth considering. What are you doing today to grow? Are you reading your Bible, are you praying, are you displaying love? But most importantly are you growing in your relationship with Christ?

Don't become a pork chop

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

This verse and the other ones like it in the Bible really bother me. To know that their are false teachers out there, thousands of them. Some even hiding behind a pulpit on Sunday mornings is a real concern for me. The people they are teaching or leading don't have a clue. They are given a false sense of security that they are safe just because they are in church. It reminds me of when I was growing up sorting gilts (female pigs) I remember thinking the ones going in that pen were going to become pork chops and the ones going in the other pen are going to be kept hopefully for along time to become part of our herd. But what I remember the most was the ones that were going to end up on someones plate did not have a clue to their destiny. That is what bothers me about those who sit under false teachers. They too don't realize what pen they are in that they will too be sorted.

The best way to protect yourself from false teaching is to pray and study your Bible and test what you are being told to what God himself has to say. If truly do this, and you are honest with yourself you will know. Then you can avoid the plate and become part of the herd so to speak.

Do you know where your flashlight is?

I'm sure you know what it is like to stumble around in the dark when the lights go out. One of the first things that goes through your head is where did I put that flashlight?
It is always nice to have a flashlight, candles or even a cell phone when it's dark. When it gets dark we all look for a light to turn on. It just does not make much sense to stumble around in the dark. After all you could get hurt. We have come so far with technology these days that there are photo sensors that turn our lights on when it gets dark.
I mean with both of our vehicles I have never had to turn the headlights on because they come on all by themselves. I was reminded of this very fact in reading 2 Peter today.

2 Peter 1

¹⁸ We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, ²¹ or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

I know you may be wondering how in the world did he get automatic headlights out of that. Let me give it a try. Sin has made this world a very dark place, and people tend to stumble around and could very well get hurt. But when you read this God's word is a light and instead of looking frantically for it when the lights go out, or things go wrong. Place it in your heart, study it, memorize verses that way every day when you get out of bed and start your day just like in my truck the lights come on automatically.

It's not what you know. It's who you know!

^{I'm sure that almost everyone at some time or other thinks about death. The question is however how many think about the one thing that automatically comes with death? And that is judgement. 1 Peter 4 says:
5} But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

Everyone will have to face God and be judged. It's an up or down vote (literally) a pass or fail grade, yes or no. It's pretty simple. Some people fear death with good reason. I would too because I know that my verdict is guilty. The answer is down, fail, or no. The exciting thing is I have someone who took my punishment for me. So I don't have to. The judge had his own son take my punishment and to that I am eternally grateful.

You have been caught red handed, your court date is set. You are someday going to stand before the judge. The question is do you have a relationship with the judges son?

Expectations

1 Peter 1:3
 ³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

Living with expectations, we all do it. We live our lives with many various expectations. We have expectations with our health, our careers, our finances, our relationships, this list can go on and on. But the problem comes when we put to much importance in these things. When we do this they become idols and idols are never good. Sooner or later these things will let us down, then we are disappointed or even crushed. But what Peter is talking about here is when you are born again you now live the great expectation of something that cannot and will not let you down and that is your eternal salvation. When you have Christ you have hope.

I have been around some people lately who are going through tremendous challenges in their lives and I look at the hope they have in Christ and I am encouraged. Then I think about those who don't have Christ and wonder how in the world will they ever make it without hope? Then I ask myself what am I doing to spread the Gospel Message? So that someday they may have that hope, that great expectation?

You can't win if you don't play

Ecclesiastes 11:4
 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

I have always understood this verse. It really does make prefect sense to me, but the question I always have to ask myself is. Why do I often find myself waiting and watching when it comes to talking to others about the Lord? Do you do the same thing?

I think most of the time we wait and watch out of fear. We fear that they might think we are weird. We fear that we might be looked down upon. We fear that we might lose a friend. We fear retaliation. But one of the big ones that we may not think to much about is the fear of failure. We think we don't know enough, or we may not say just the right thing. Perhaps we are afraid we may say the wrong thing and turn them away from the Lord. So we wait and watch for the perfect opportunity. The funny thing is the perfect opportunity never comes.

Notice I used the word fear many times in the last paragraph and in the context that I used the word fear can be defined as a lack of faith. After all God is sovereign and he already knows who will come to Faith he decided that before he even made this world, and those he has called will come to Faith with or without you. The cool thing is God does not need us to complete this process he can do it all on his own but he loves us so much he wants us to be able to share in the joy he receives when someone comes to know him.

So don't be so afraid of messing up that you won't even try. After all you can't win if you don't play and in the end the final result is not up to you it's ultimately in the hands of God.

Location, Location, Location

Today I was drawn to the following three verses in Ecclesiastes by the common theme they seemed to have.
5:18
 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.

6:10
Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.

7:13
Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Reading these verses made me think about all of the makeovers that are on TV and how people want to be made over and start new. People want to change their looks thinking it will change life's outcome.
Now don't get me wrong I am not against change, we must all be changed everyday. But what I took from these verses it that we must not get all wrapped up in who we are not but rather accept who we are and work from that.
If your health is bad use that to glorify God. If you are poor and can't go on that cruise you dream about use your time at work to glorify God. If you don't have all of the friends you would like to have talk to the one you do have to glorify God.
God has you where you are at this point in time for a reason and God wants to use you right where you are at not where you want to be. Like they say location, location location. Trust that God has you right now exactly where he wants you to be. Then take advantage of that.

Valentine's Day thoughts

How appropriate that the following verses came up in my reading on this Valentine's Day. It is Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

  ⁹ Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰ If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ¹¹ Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

God said it is not good for man to be alone and here he says that two are better than one. God desined marraige for this very reason so who ever you are with if you realize that God has put you together and he has a purpose for doing so how much better off will you be?
 In the 6 months after Teresa graduated in 1982 a good share of her classmates got married and today we are the only ones left still married to each other. I can only give credit where credit is due and that is to the grace of God. Has it been great? Yes. Has it been easy sometimes yes, sometimes no. But I have always know that God had put us together for a reason. Some days I think I know that reason, other days I don't have a clue. But I do know that there is a reason and someday I will know. But for right now that is good enough for me.

 If either of us tried to do the marriage thing all on our own I have a pretty good feeling we would have been just like all of the others and failed miserably. After all I can be annoying at times. God put us together and kept us together.

I realize that Teresa has played a huge role in who I am today and I thank her for it.
So on this Valentine's day I thank God for first choosing me, second for choosing Teresa to be my wife, and third for the family that he has graced me with. I deserve none of it and still marvel at the grace of God for allowing me to have these things.

What are you chasing, and what will you do if you catch it?

Today I started going through Ecclesiastes and forgot what a great book it is. Most think the King Solomon wrote this book and at the time he was the richest and wisest man that had ever lived. He makes some awesome points through out this book.

In the first 8 verse of chapter Chapter 2 he points out how much "stuff" he had. To me it sounds like an episode of "Celebrity Cribs" or for those of you who are a bit older "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." We often wonder why so often we hear of celebrities that crash and burn or lottery winners who become bankrupt. There is a reason and Solomon hits on it in verses 9-11
 ⁹ So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. ¹⁰ Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. ¹¹ But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Solomon gets it. this stuff is all worthless in the big scheme of things. I go back again to what seems to be my word of the year and that is value. What do you place the most value on? Is it money, friendship, family, your job, or is it your relationship with Christ? Only one of these things is permanent only one of these things will be allowed past security when you die and that of course is your relationship with Christ.

Solomon finishes off the chapter in a sense saying the very same thing.

 ²⁴ So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?^{[b] 26} God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

So what are you chasing, and what will you do if you catch it?

What are you looking forward to?

In today's blog I am looking for responses from those of you who take the time to read my various thoughts.

What are you looking forward to in Heaven?

There are many possible answers but I am interested what you are really looking forward to on that day when others will be sad but you will be glorified.

Please take a minute and reply with your answer. If you cannot leave a comment please send your thoughts to mtpowens@hotmail.com

Hater?

There are two words that theologians used that get some people all worked up and they are predestination and election. In some conversations those two word may not be the right words to use. Instead I look at it as God is big enough to do what ever he chooses if he wants to show you grace and make you his child he will. No one can ever become a Christian if God does not want them to be one, and no one can remain an unbeliever if God wants then to be a Christian. We are not more powerful than he is.

Romans 9: 9-13 is one of many places in the Bible that makes this point clear.
 ⁹For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." ¹⁰And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹²she was told, "The older will serve the younger." ¹³As it is written,^(V) "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

God hates? It's in the Bible. Read all of Romans 9 and think about what control God has.

It can't be that bad...... If.

If you have your priorities right nothing can be to bad. However with that said "if" could possibly be the biggest word in the English language. People today are faced with many different challenges, health, financial, relational, emotional, vocational, the list goes on and on. When these things strike some times we ask why God why? That is if we are are inclined to believe that God does exist as some claim they don't. If we place all of our faith in the things in the previous list we are going to really be disappointed if not devastated. We have to get our priorities strait.

Going back to the title of today's blog no matter what you are going through it can't be that bad if. If again being the key word. If Christ is your number one priority you win. He has not forgot about you or forsaken you what ever you are going through believe it or not he will turn it into good. Romans 8: 35-37 makes this very clear.
 ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Overwhelming victory is yours. But only through Christ.
Today consider Christ, consider what he has done for you or if you ask him into your life consider what he can do for you and then remember it can be that bad "if" you have placed your faith in Christ.

Watch out for falling rock.

Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.
When you read this sentence what do you think about? I think about a sign along side highway 99 in Burlington. The sign says watch out for falling rock. The question is do I do that? If anything I tend to look for a rock that has already fallen but I do not look out for the one coming from above that could injure or kill me.

The opening line in today's blog is not just a sentence but it is a verse from the Bible it's Matthew 21:44 it is talking of course about Jesus being the cornerstone the rock that everything is based off of. Here it states very clearly that if you don't have the correct understanding of Jesus the consequences are dire. Just like me and the falling rock sign don't just look at what has already happened look out for what could happen if you don't have a relationship with Jesus.
If you do have a relationship with Jesus constantly remind yourself what he has done for you on the cross, that what he did for you was more than you deserved. Be grateful that he loved you enough to go through it for you and praise him for it.

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Reading Romans 1 today and came across verse 25 it says:
²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen

For some reason it reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows American Pickers. It is a show on the History channel about two guys from Iowa who drive around the country and buy and sell things. They actually have a business in Le Claire and now this show. For them to be successful they have to know the value of things before they buy them so when the sell them they can turn a profit and therefore make a living.

Where this verse comes in is we must not just know the the truth, but we must know the value of the truth so we do not trade it in for a lie. I am sure that there are people out there who try and sell Mike and Frank some bogus goods to make a quick buck. Unfortunately it's up to them to be able to spot a fake, or a worthless item. The same thing goes for us. Satan is always trying to sell us some kind of knock off item and it is up to us not to trade the truth for a lie. Just like Mike and Frank we have to do our homework to be able to know the truth. How do we do this? It is very simple actually. There is a truth text book, a guide to the truth, the truth for dummies. It's called the Bible. The Bible is all about the truth. Read it, study it, discuss it, pray about what you have just read and then you will know the truth. Then you will not be fooled into worshiping creation. But the Creator himself. Because if you go on and read the rest of chapter 1 of Romans there are some real consequences for making that mistake.

Credit where credit is due

I was reminded again this weekend of God's grace. I was able to spend the whole weekend with my family under one roof. I think of all of the broken families in the country today, all of the families that are scattered across the country, families who have had members taken from them too early, and families who just don't like each other very much. When you sit back and realize that you can not really control all of or really any of these things you can only point to God's grace and I have been blessed greatly by God. I saw a saying in a store this weekend that said that "Our family may not have it all together but together we have it all." I do not know the originators intention but when I read it I don't think of myself as the head of my family, I think of God as the father of my family and with that I am truly grateful and then yes, then we do have it all. I am by no means saying that everything is perfect but what I am saying is that when you put him first things like patience, forgiveness, discernment, and unconditional love come much easier. As much as I enjoyed my entire weekend I can not take any credit for it. All I can do is give credit where credit is due and thank him by giving him his props and trying my best to reflect his glory always.

From Garden to City

Was reminded of something interesting yesterday. The the Bible is not garden to garden but garden to city.
God started out by putting man in the garden of Eden and at the end Heaven is described as a great city.
I find it interesting how society today is already mirroring that. By how many fewer people live in the country and how many have moved to the cities.

Man was designed to be in community and we are working towards that. Couple this with the things going on in the world. The disasters, the unrest in the Middle East, it all leads to one thing. The end of the world.
It is funny how many people prepare for a bad snow storm but how many are prepared for the end of the world?

Did you miss this in the Great Ground Hog Day Blizzard of 2011?

In all of the anticipation, the worry, and the extra work associated with this week blizzard did you miss one very important thing? God's power, I was reminded of it in the book of Job chapter 37

 ⁵ God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
      We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
 ⁶ “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
      and tells the rain to pour down.
 ⁷ Then everyone stops working
      so they can watch his power.

Boy did he ever direct it to fall.
Did you recognize God's power this week?

God himself has some very interesting things to say about snow as well in chapter 38.

 ²² “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
      or seen the storehouses of hail?
 ²³ (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
      for the day of battle and war.)

We got just a small preview of how effective His weapons could be if he so chooses to unleash them.


I would really recommend reading chapters 37 & 38 of Job today and be reminded of God's power.

What's it worth to ya?

Yesterday Teresa was showing me a set of Princess House glasses. Yes they were nice but a set of 4 was over $40. Math was never my strength but that is over $10 a glass. In my book no glass is worth $10. Then I started thinking again about my word for the year "value." To someone that glass may be worth that kind of money but not to me. When I bought a 18 volt Dewalt cordless drill for $99 that was a good value to me. It is all about what we think things are worth.

What things in your life do you place the most value on? Your home, your car, your family, or some other prized possession? Guess what as important as those things are to all of us in the great scheme of things they are worthless garbage when you compare their value to knowing Christ.
The entire Bible points to it but Paul comes right out and says it in Philippians 3:8

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Knowing what things are worth is what makes any businessman successful but knowing what things are really worth is what brings joy to this life and also brings eternal life in Heaven.